Energy Resource Portfolios

Public agencies and planners are increasingly viewing long-term energy futures in terms of a “portfolio” of generation and distribution technologies. This approach can enhance reliability and resiliency, and benefit the economy and environment. EDR Group evaluates broader impacts of alternative energy programs on the economy, thus supporting solutions that can be both economically and environmentally sustainable.

Examples:

Renewable Power Portfolio

EDR Group (under subcontract to KEMA) conducted an evaluation of the New York State Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS) Program. EDR Group assessed the economic impacts of construction and on-going operations for projects including bio-fuel, hydro, and wind power facilities in New York. Results were presented in terms of jobs, income and business sales by year.

Net Energy Metering for Distributed Generation

EDR Group (under subcontract to MRW) assessed impacts on the California economy from various scenarios of solar distributed energy generation resources deployed under net energy metering tariffs. The project used results of a scenario model for net energy metering supply outcomes including ratepayer costs, utility avoided costs, and customer investments. EDR Group applied economic modeling to assess effects on jobs and Gross State Product.

Community Energy Program

For Alameda County, California, EDR Group is part of team assessing the feasibility of establishing a “Community Choice Energy” program for local municipalities. The program will enable communities to purchase or self-generate lower carbon emitting energy, and deploy additional energy-efficiency programs. EDR Group is assessing the job impacts resulting from electricity rate changes and the shift from existing power generation and distribution systems to new technologies.

Photovoltaic Generation

EDR Group (under subcontract to Sustainable Energy Advantage) evaluated impacts on the NY State economy from increasing photovoltaic (PV) electricity generation. EDR Group used economic models to assess impacts from of alternative scenarios including small residential, commercial and industrial sector adoption of small scale PV, as well as mega-watt scale installations.

Advanced Biofuels

EDR Group assisted the Massachusetts Advanced Biofuels Task Force to define the potential economic opportunities of developing an advanced biofuels sector in the state. EDR Group evaluated economic incentives for production of biomass fuels and the benefits for the state’s economy. This work contributed to the funding a new state biofulels program.

Off-shore Wind Farms

EDR Group (under subcontract to SEA) team, analyzed economic impacts of off-shore wind deployment scenarios for New York. The study examined impacts on jobs and GDP for a series of wind generation scenarios. It considered impacts from wind farm installation, operation, changes in energy prices, compliance payments, and reducing future power plan capacity additions.

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